WATCH: Premier updates state on borders, virus latest

Premier Peter Gutwein has provided a live update on the state of Tasmania’s borders and the latest in light of Victoria’s unfolding virus situation. LATEST UPDATES HERE >>

TASMANIAN authorities say they expect to vaccinate the highest priority cohort of people against the coronavirus by early April and the wider population as early as October, but have warned the jab will not be a “silver bullet”.

An estimated 14,000 Tasmanians will be included in the first stage of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to start by the end of this month.

Quarantine and border workers, hotel quarantine staff, frontline health workers — including ambulance personnel and emergency department and intensive care unit hospital staff — and COVID-19 testing staff will first get access to the jab, which is manufactured by Pfizer.

The Commonwealth will have responsibility for residents and workers in aged care settings which will also be part of the first phase of the rollout, Premier Peter Gutwein said.

Mr Gutwein said the vaccination program would start later this month — with Tasmania receiving 2340 doses a week for the first three weeks, doubling to 4680 doses a week from the fourth week, as the state delivers the second dose during March.

“The number of allocated doses is based on Tasmania’s proportion of priority recipients nationally in the initial phase of the rollout,’’ he said.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein during the COVID-19 update at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Pfizer stock will be limited over the first few weeks but it will pick up significantly near the end of March.”

Those in the priority groups will be contacted before the first batch of the vaccine arrives to arrange two appointments 21 days apart to receive both doses at hubs in the state’s three major hospitals in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.

Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said there had been an “extraordinary” response to an expression of interest for registered nurses wanting to be part of the vaccination effort.

More than 500 registrations were received in the first 24 hours and there have been 812 as of Friday afternoon.

Ms Morgan-Wicks said the vaccination program was a “massive undertaking” which involved thousands of staff — and that the state would do its best to ensure there was no impact on existing health services as a result.

She explained challenges facing the state’s vaccination effort included the fact that Tasmania did not have current capability to store the Pfizer vaccine at its required temperature of below -70 degrees.

Department of Health Secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks during the COVID-19 update at Hobart. Picture Chris Kidd

“As Tasmania does not have such facilities, we are putting in place a transport and refrigeration process that will protect the vaccine once it arrives in the state later this month,’’ Ms Morgan-Wicks said.

“This will enable the vaccine program to begin in late February as we await the arrival of a number of portable freezers from the Commonwealth in early March.”

Mr Gutwein said he wanted as many Tasmanians as possible to get vaccinated, but he warned against complacency.

“The vaccine is free, it is safe and it is available to everyone,’’ he said.

“The vaccine is not a silver bullet, and it’s critical that we all continue to be COVID-safe.”

Once the first phase of the vaccine rollout is completed, it will expand to other locations across the state including respiratory clinics, GPs, Aboriginal-controlled community health services and state-run vaccination clinics.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to be used in the subsequent stages of the rollout in the wider population.

Ms Morgan-Wicks said it was hoped the state would be able to deliver the vaccine to most of the Tasmanian population by October, in line with national timelines outlined by the Prime Minister.

COVID BORDERS LATEST

Premier Peter Gutwein has provided an update on Tasmania’s borders and the latest in light of Victoria’s unfolding virus situation.

Peter Gutwein has confirmed the state’s health authorities are currently assessing the high-risk COVID-19 areas but are hopeful some may be lowered soon as four people in Tasmania who were exposed to high risk areas test negative.

There are currently high risk locations in Victoria and New Zealand.

West Australians in the Perth, Peel and South West region will end their lockdown at 6pm tonight with the South West region returning to complete pre-lockdown conditions and classifications have been eased to medium and low risk (see below).

Nine New Zealand and 14 Victorian premises remain at high risk.

Premier Gutwein said border restrictions with all three locations will stay in place for the time being but he was confident some would lower soon.

Despite the optimism of eased border restrictions, Mr Gutwein urged vigilance while introducing new measures for people travelling through Tasmanian airports.

It will now be mandatory for travellers to be wearing a mask as soon as they leave their vehicle on arrival at the airport.

>>SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL LIST OF HIGH RISK LOCATIONS

“Get used to having a mask in your back pocket,” Mr Gutwein said.

Director of public health Dr Mark Veitch said testing numbers in Tasmania had “slumped” and urged Tasmanians to get tested if they have any symptoms at all.

He hoped to see twice the level of testing.

“Get off the bottom of the testing rates nationally — get out and get tested,” he said.

Between 300 and 400 Tasmanians are currently getting tested daily.

WATCH HERE

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It comes as the hotel worker who traversed Melbourne while unknowingly infected with COVID-19 had the mutant UK virus strain, it has been confirmed.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton revealed the news on Friday morning, saying health authorities “always worked on the assumption” he was carrying the more contagious variant.

HIGH RISK AREAS

NEW ZEALAND:

Orrs Unichem Pharmacy Ruakaka

Ruakaka

Marsden Point Rd, Town Centre22 January: 11:21 am - 12:26 pm

Hickeys Pharmacy

Orewa

16 Moana Avenue23 January: 12.30 pm - 1.30 pm

New World Orewa

Orewa

11 Moana Avenue23 January: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Farmers in Westfield Shopping Centre Albany

Albany

Don McKinnon Drive24 January: 11.29 am - 12.08 pm

Tai Ping Supermarket Albany

Rosedale

92 Rosedale Road24 January: 12 noon - 1 pm

Pak n Save Silverdale

Silverdale

20 Hibiscus Coast Highway25 January: 2.35 pm - 3.02 pm

Caltex Orewa

Orewa

70 Grand Drive25 January: 2.15 pm - 2.30 pm

Tai Ping Supermarket Northcote

Northcote

2 Kilham Avenue26 January: 12.30 pm - 1 pm

DaHua Supermarket Northcote

Northcote

35 Pearn Crescent26 January: 12.57 pm - 1.45 pm

VICTORIA:

Exford Hotel

199 Russell St

Melbourne, VIC 3000

29 January: 11:00pm - 11:35pm

Kebab Kingz

438 Spencer St

West Melbourne, VIC 3003

29 January: 11:24pm - 1:15am

Club Noble

45-56 Moodemere St

Noble Park, VIC 3174

30 January: 2:36pm - 3:30pm

Aces Sporting Club (Driving Range)

Cnr Springvale Rd and Hutton Rd

Keysborough, VIC 3173

31 January: 10pm - 11:15pm

Northpoint Café

2b North Rd

Brighton, VIC 3186

31 January: 8:10am - 9:30am

Kmart, Parkmore Keysborough Shopping Centre

C/317 Cheltenham Rd

Keysborough, VIC 3173

31 January: 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Kmart, Brandon Park Shopping Centre

Cnr Springvale Rd and Ferntree Gully Rd

Brandon Park, VIC 3170

31 January: 4:35pm - 5:10pm

Coles

825 Dandenong Rd

Springvale, VIC 3171

31 January: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Nakama Workshop

85 Main Rd

Clayton South, VIC 3169

01 February: 11:15am - 12:00pm

Bunnings

849 Princes Hwy

Springvale, VIC 3171

01 February: 11:28am - 12:15pm

Lululemon

DFO Moorabbin, Shop G-039/250 Centre Dandenong Rd

Moorabbin VIC 3194

01 February: 5:00pm - 5:45pm

Melbourne Golf Academy

385 Centre Dandenong Rd

Heatherton, VIC 3202

01 February: 5:19pm - 6:36pm

Woolworths Springvale

302 Springvale Rd

Springvale, VIC 3171

01 February: 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Sharetea Springvale

27C Buckingham Ave

Springvale, VIC 3171

01 February: 6:50pm - 7:30pm

WESTERN AUSTRALIA (MEDIUM RISK):

Perth Region

Peel Region

South West Region - Low Risk